Newsom’s Mill is tucked away in Davidson County, Tennessee in the Bellevue area. The gristmill was built in 1862 by Joseph M. Newsom. The original mill was built upstream in the late 1700s by William Newsom, Joseph’s father. It was destroyed by a flood in 1808.
Today, visitors can see the ruins and Harpeth River, and even fish or enjoy a picnic.
The turbine-powered mill is constructed of hand-dressed limestone from Newsom’s Quarry, located a mile south. The limestone from this quarry was used in building many important Nashville buildings: the State Capital, the Customs House, Hume-Fogg Magnet School, Union Station and the stone wall around the old City Cemetery.
During my visit, I was excited to view the signs posted in the mill for a “self-guided tour”. However, these signs are in bad shape and illegible from weather and poor maintenance.
The ruins are worth a visit and are a neat part of Middle Tennessee history. Photos from my visit are posted on my Flickr page and in the slideshow below.
Problems viewing? Click here to view my Flickr photo album for Newsom’s Mill Ruins.
Sources for this blog post:
Down Home Genealogy 